Working out but gaining weight

traceysdc
traceysdc Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey! I am a bit frustrated. I have been really working out regular for the last two weeks. 30 mins every day the first week and 60 mins every day this week - high impact cardio. My weight just keeps going up up up. I have put on 6 lbs since I started. I know water weight in the beginning is possible, but really... 6 lbs.

I am watching my calories, not starving myself, and making good choices most of the time (I do like an occasional light beer).

Any ideas?

Replies

  • autum9676
    autum9676 Posts: 1
    I'm actually having a similar problem. I've gained about 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Prior to that I was just maintaining my weight. I figured since I'm about 30 lbs over weight I should be loosing even if I'm gaining muscle. The only thing that has kept me going was I had my husband take pictures of me when I first started and then again last week (about 5 weeks later) and I could actually see some results. Hopefully someone with some knowledge on this will respond. I'm very curious as well.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    put your work out goal to a higher number-
    then caleries will be fewer
    and you' ll lose
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    need to see what you are eating.
  • carolynbergen1
    carolynbergen1 Posts: 57
    Muscle weighs more than fat and even though you didn't say you were lifting I have noticed my legs/gluts are getting rather muscular through just cardio. I just started with the bowflex 2 weeks ago and have not weighed myself since and I just know the scale is not going to show any loss and probably a gain. Oh well....
  • frood
    frood Posts: 295 Member
    Are you tracking measurements? Have you gained any inches or stayed the same/lost?
  • fietsvrouw
    fietsvrouw Posts: 50 Member
    It is not uncommon not to see progress right away. You may be building muscle if you have not been exercising, and as muscle weighs 3 times as much as fat, that can offset weight loss on the scale or cause you to gain. Your muscles may be storing fluids that help them heal, or you may be dehydrated, which makes your body hold onto water, so be sure you are drinking enough. Unless you think it is plausible that you ate 21,000 calories past what you burned with base metabolic rate and exercise (I don't think you could have), I would assume that this is going on.

    I did not see any change on the scale for the first three weeks of following my regimen, and I have read that for some people it has taken longer. My weight is dropping at a little over 2 pounds a week on the exact same regimen now. Double check that you are tracking calories accurately, and be careful because MyFitnessPal shows the calories burned for exercise a bit high sometimes. Then give it a few more weeks, take your measurements and track your progress that way until it starts showing up on the scale.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    If you're eating at a deficit you're not gaining muscle doing cardio. You may be retaining water for muscle repair, especially if the exercise is intense. You can also retain water due to sodium or time of month.

    Do you use a food scale for logging? Do you log everything? If not, start. If you already are then give it a couple of more weeks. If you haven't lost anything in a month it's time to consider changing your calorie goal a bit.

    ETA: I see you only have 8 lbs to lose. That means it's going to be slower going. What's your calorie goal?
  • paxbfl
    paxbfl Posts: 391 Member
    I was 30 pounds overweight, worked out pretty hard 6 days a week for over a year and GAINED weight.

    How is this possible? Easy. I was eating back all the calories I burned - and then some. It's not surprising. Most people vastly underestimate how much they are eating. I definitely did.

    When I started MFP, I took a very honest look at what I was eating. That meant looking at serving sizes, even measuring. That handful of chips or pretzels? I started counting them. I discovered I was eating over 3,500 calories a day. (Some days, closer to 4,000 - especially if we ate out or had dessert!)

    My BMR was about 1,900. So I started eating a little over that - between 1,900 and 2,000 calories a day. I continued the workouts - and even upped the intensity a bit. The results? The weight dropped FAST. I lost 40 pounds in about 4 months. (If you don't know what BMR is, or TDEE, go here: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/)

    I've struggled my whole life with my weight, so I'm sympathetic. We think it's normal to eat a lot (everyone does it!) and then we think it's unfair because we can't lose weight. Guess what? We eat too much!

    Metabolism plays a slight role, but let's be honest. For the most part, it's simple math. Calories in and calories out. If you eat more than you burn, you'll gain weight. Burn more than you eat, and you'll lose. Simple.

    It's really not that hard. For me it was an adjustment but after a week or so I wasn't even hungry and I felt great.

    Here's a link to what I did. People think my workouts were a little crazy... maybe they were, but you don't have to do that. Again, I lost 40 pounds in 4 months. That's pretty fast. You can take a much easier path and still get great results. Good luck!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/920970-how-i-lost-the-fat
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    I took measurements 2 weeks ago, but I haven't since then. I have been so frustrated with the weight issue, I was honestly afraid to measure.
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    I am trying to lose 18 lbs now - 12 when I started. GEEZE. I'm really new to using this so I am not sure how to get it all to show the right info.

    I am logging everything, sometimes it gets put in the wrong time frame, but I get it all on there.

    I do weigh things and I individually bag them so I have only a portion at a setting.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    And how much are you eating?
  • carolynbergen1
    carolynbergen1 Posts: 57
    I agree with the previous poster....we eat way too much.....I know I was.

    As far as not being able to gain muscle at a deficit...I disagree. I've been mostly at a deficit since January and I have some rock hard muscle in legs/gluts now...
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    1200 calories / day
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I am trying to lose 18 lbs now - 12 when I started. GEEZE. I'm really new to using this so I am not sure how to get it all to show the right info.

    I am logging everything, sometimes it gets put in the wrong time frame, but I get it all on there.

    I do weigh things and I individually bag them so I have only a portion at a setting.

    Don't be frustrated. Just try to have patience. If what you're doing isn't working you just have to adjust. But don't make any adjustments without giving what you're already doing a chance to work (assuming what you're doing is reasonable).
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    are you weighing on the same scale, same time, same location, dressed in the same manner, and is it calibrated?
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I agree with the previous poster....we eat way too much.....I know I was.

    As far as not being able to gain muscle at a deficit...I disagree. I've been mostly at a deficit since January and I have some rock hard muscle in legs/gluts now...

    So do I, but that's because I'm losing the fat that's covering the muscles up. It makes them look bigger but they really aren't. You can make a small amount of newbie gains if you start lifting weights and you never have before, but you won't put on a large amount.


    OP 1200 calories is probably not enough for you given how little you have to lose. I'd set MFP to lose half a pound per week and eat back half your exercise calories.
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    I'm using the same scale. Time may vary by about 30 mins or so, but some attire.
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    OK. Thanks. I will try that. I know that my stamina is much better. Work outs on day 1 were a heck of a lot harder than day 12. I just introduced some light weights for my arms.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    OK. Thanks. I will try that. I know that my stamina is much better. Work outs on day 1 were a heck of a lot harder than day 2. I just introduced some light weights for my arms.

    That's great! Focusing on non-scale progress helps a lot, I've found.
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    Funny you say that. I taped a piece of paper across my scale today that says "I AM EVIL, STAY AWAY"

    I'm not stepping back on it for a bit. It is too frustrating.
  • vdobbs28
    vdobbs28 Posts: 72 Member
    Muscle weighs more than fat and even though you didn't say you were lifting I have noticed my legs/gluts are getting rather muscular through just cardio. I just started with the bowflex 2 weeks ago and have not weighed myself since and I just know the scale is not going to show any loss and probably a gain. Oh well....

    *this* I did cardio and weight lifting at one point in my life and I gained weight because of muscles...my BF% wasn't as much as what the scale said.
  • Carmenbraun55
    Carmenbraun55 Posts: 50 Member
    I strongly recomend to read the 'in place of a roadmap" from Helloitsdan !! It opened my eyes. Try it out there are tons of people here that had great succsess with it including me ;)
    Good luck
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    For anyone interested in the gaining muscle while losing fat question, here's a good read:

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html

    Cliffs: it's possible to gain a small amount of muscle while eating at a deficit if you're new to lifting or very overweight, but those gains are limited.
  • mwbartek
    mwbartek Posts: 21
    I am encountering the same thing and it is SO frustrating! I started JM Body Revolution and just finished phase 1/one full month. Thanks goodness I took measurements (bought an inexpensive retractable tape measurer off Amazon) and took pictures because I've GAINED 2 pounds. I didn't have much to lose and fortunately have been lucky to eat (and *drink* hahaha) pretty much anything most of my life but now I'm freaking out with the scale going up, up, up just when I'm actually eating well and not drinking alcohol nearly as much as before. I just keep telling myself to ignore the scale and focus on inches lost but after 30+ years it is hard to do.
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    bump...
  • Alta2000
    Alta2000 Posts: 655 Member
    I weigh myself every morning, naked or just panties, after I visit the bathroom, before having coffee or breakfast. I learned not to freak out with fluctuations of up to 8lbs within 1-2 days. It is the sodium, sparkling water, that I might have eaten the day before, late night eating the previous night even if it was within my calories, TOM, change in exercise workout, or heavy exercise before, strength training the previous day. Each monthly weight report looks similar with high spikes based on any of the above reasons, but every month the pattern is in a lower weight range. It has helped me understand my body and why some days I feel extremely bloated. You'll be surprised how much sodium is in some foods.
  • traceysdc
    traceysdc Posts: 9
    Thanks so much guys. I am staying away from the scale for now. Focusing on my workouts and trying not to obsess. Easier said than done.

    I am a bit worried because I am leaving for a birthday weekend next Wednesday and will not be able to do my workout until I return home late Sunday night. I will be active, but nothing like right now.

    Thanks again!!

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